The Union government, on Monday, issued an advisory to print, electronic and digital media to refrain from advertising online betting platforms.
The advisory issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry comes in wake of instances of a number of advertisements of online betting websites/platforms appearing in print, electronic, social, and online media.
Betting and gambling, illegal in most parts of the country, pose significant financial and socio-economic risks to the consumers, especially youth and children, the advisory said. It further added that these advertisements for online betting have the effect of promoting this largely prohibited activity.
“The advertisements of online betting are misleading, and do not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978”, it added.
The advisory, issued in the larger public interest, also asked the online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, to not display such advertisements in India or target such advertisements toward the Indian audience.
On 4 December 2020, the ministry issued an advisory to Private Satellite TV channels to adhere to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) guidelines on advertisements for online gaming which contained specific Dos and Don’ts for print and audio-visual advertisements of online gaming.